Menstrual Irregularities May Indicate Genetic Disorder

Hershey, Pa. -- Five to 10 percent of women suffer from a hormonal disorder
that may be inherited and may cause infertility, according to a doctor at Penn
State's Milton S. Hershey Medical Center who is researching the problem.

Women suffering from this disorder may find that their male relatives
are affected as well, although in different ways.

The disorder, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), refers to a group of
apparently related symptoms, including menstrual irregularities, increased body
and facial hair (hirsutism), acne and infertility, according to Richard S.
Legro, M.D., assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Hershey. Women
with PCOS are often overweight, as well.

"PCOS is the most common cause of irregular periods," said Legro, noting
that 80 percent of women with six or fewer periods per year have the syndrome.

Legro and other leading researchers believe that PCOS is inherited, and
that its symptoms may appear among both males and females in the family. Legro
is currently conducting a major study of women with PCOS and their families.
Hershey is one of the few study locations in the country. The goal is to
interview and test, over the next five years, 300 women with PCOS and their
relatives.

Most women with PCOS have multiple small cysts in their ovaries, hence
the ovaries are called polycystic. These cysts can be detected by sonogram.
Researchers believe that a slight elevation of male hormones called androgens
may inhibit development of the eggs within the ovary, causing the anovulation or
failure to ovulate that is typical of women with PCOS. Since women with PCOS may
not ovulate at all or may only ovulate infrequently, they may have difficulty
getting pregnant. These androgens may also lead to increased body hair and acne.

Legro is recruiting women with PCOS and their families for his study and
has started a support group and a home page on the Internet to help women
understand and cope with the syndrome. The home page, located at
www.hmc.psu/depts/obgyn/pcos.htm, includes a question-and-answer forum, with
Legro replying to specific patient questions.

"We used to think that the primary result of PCOS was irregular periods,
and hirsutism," said Legro. "But women with PCOS frequently have a pre-diabetic
condition. They are at risk for diabetes, particularly if they are overweight."

Women with PCOS appear to have additional health risks besides the
tendency toward diabetes, according to Legro. Uterine cancer may eventually
result from the infrequent menstrual periods, since the lining of the uterus
continues to grow with each missed period.

Male relatives of women with PCOS may be insulin-resistant and may tend
to become bald at a young age.

"Our goal is to see if this is a genetic disease," said Legro. "There
appears to be a pattern of inheritance within the family, but no one has really
done these studies yet, in a careful, systematic manner." Other names for the
disorder are Stein-Leventhal Syndrome and hyperandrogenic chronic anovulation.

One of the major funders of the study, The National Cooperative Program
for Infertility Research, was established by an act of Congress as a resource to
explore disorders causing infertility. Additional National Institute of Health
(NIH) funding comes through its support of the General Clinical Research Center
at Hershey, as well as an NIH clinical investigator award to Legro. Hershey
Medical Center is also providing funding for the study.

Interested women or men may contact the researchers through the Internet
site above or by calling Sharon Ward, the study coordinator, at 1-800-585-9585.

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